The analysts on hand to watch Canada vs. USA were witnesses to roaring, screeching, senses-blasting history, and they knew it right away.

They knew.

More than a few of them called that gold-medal game one of the greatest sporting events they’d ever experienced–and who could argue that?

By the way, I love reading that kind of stuff.

When you’re NOT at an epic event, you hoping that the lucky witnesses communicate what it felt like to be there, to be in the middle of the madness and the sound and the panic and the exhilaration.

Canada over USA in OT… and the resulting coverage… qualified in every detail.

Which got me thinking: What are the greatest events I’ve been lucky enough to witness in person?

I don’t know if I can match what happened in Vancouver, but here’s my list…

1. Evander Holyfield TKO 11 smashing of Mike Tyson in their first meeting, November 9, 1996.

-Site: MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

-Note: This wasn’t the bout when Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear. The “Bite Fight” was the rematch in June 1997. Covered that one, too, and Holyfield kicked Tyson’s butt again, which caused Tyson’s panicked bite. That was not a great moment. That was more disgusting than anything.

-Why this was great: Tangible shock mixed with the amazing, electrifying sites and sounds of Mike Tyson getting stomped by somebody he and his camp were sure they’d walk right through.

Tyson was still considered a destroyer at this point, with the added danger of his recent prison stay. Holyfield was the religious man. (We know a lot more about both men these days.)

I knew Tyson was, at this point, mostly a hyped-up shell of what he used to be, and I never thought Tyson would destroy Holyfield. But Holyfield had looked awful before that fight, had the heart issues (and “miracle cure”), and was no youngster.